The next stage of developing a swathe of the remaining farmland on the east side of Inverness is about to begin.
Fields between the retail park and Milton of Culloden are within land that, for the past decade, has been designated for development within Highland Council’s local plan.
Community councils and other organisations directly affected are being contacted by planning officials who are seeking their initial input to what is expected to be a year-long process.
The council has pledged to include a “large public park” within a “draft boundary” of the area to preserve an element of green space.
The development brief is a detailed planning policy document that will ultimately shape the extent of housing and map out access routes.
Principal planner Tim Stott said: “All directly affected parties have been contacted. We’ve written to agencies, landowners, community councils and groups with a direct interest.
“The purpose of the brief is to work out a detailed land-use drawing for where all the houses, road and open space are going. We’ve made a commitment for a large district park within this land.
“We’re asking everybody with a direct interest if they want to meet with us so we can explain the process and timing of the brief.”
An open invitation will follow in the autumn for anyone wanting to attend a workshop. The dates are still to be arranged.
Once the initial feedback is assessed the council’s city committee will consider a draft development brief early next year. A formal public consultation would then follow, seeking people’s views in writing.
The planning document would then be amended accordingly before returning to the committee for its final approval.
Once adopted, the development brief will carry the same weight as a Local Development Plan in the determination of planning applications.
The document will take into account options presented in the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton Scheme, known as EastLink, a key part of proposals put forward as part of the Inverness City Region Deal.
The council has pledged to consult with communities and the agencies responsible for water, waste water, flood management and natural heritage “to ensure that everyone has a say.”